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No. 6I4,623. Patented Nov. 22, I898.

W, H.- REAMA.

GASKET TRUCK.

' (Application filed Apr. 14, 1898.) (No Model.)

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VASHINGT ON H. REAMA, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPRINGFIELD SILVER PLATE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CASKET-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,623, dated November 22, 1898.

Application filed April 14, 1898. Serial No. 677,639. (No model.) I I To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWAsHINGToN H. REAMA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in-the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gasket Trucks or Pedestals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices forsupporting caskets for funeral purposes, and it particularly relates to a wheeled device in the nature of a truck which may be used for supporting a casket and also for transporting the same at funerals, in churches, the.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple device for the purpose which shall form a rigid support for the casket when in use and at the same time be capable of folding in small compass when not in use. I attain this object by the constructions shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of part of one of the end frames in detail, showing the holding device for retaining the truck or pedestal in its open position. Fig. 3 is a detail view I of the same. Fig. 4: is a side elevation, partly broken away, of one of the end bars, showing the retaining devices. Fig. 5 is a detail of the same. Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing a modification. Fig. 8 is a view of the end formed with braces.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In constructing my improved truck or support I employ two end frames at a, which may be of any suitable design and consisting, essentially, of side posts ct and cross-bars a The frames a dare supported on caster-wheels c, which are preferably connected directly to the posts a, in which the caster-frames are adapted to turn. The frames aare connected together on each side by a series of pivoted levers b and b in the nature of lazy-tongs. The respective lazy-tong side frames are pref erably connected together at the top and bottom by connecting-rods 6 which may also serve as pivots for connecting the extremities of the levers b and b, the said levers being pivoted together at the center by bolts or pins b in a well-known manner. The lower extremity of each of thelazy-tong frames is pivoted by a bolt or other suitable connection 12 direct to the end frames a, while the upper extremity of each of these lazy-tongs is connected to the said end frames by a detachable sliding-connection hereinafter more fully described, it being understood that one of the series of levers b will be pivoted to each of the end frames and one of the series of levers l) have a sliding connection with each of the same.

The tops of the side posts a of the frames are each preferably provided with bearingsupports a preferably of rubber or similar material. The cross-bars a are also provided with similar bearing-supports a, which will lie in a different horizontal plane, the crossbars being located slightly below the tops of the posts a. When in position, as shown in Fig. 1, the casket is adapted to rest either on the tops a of the posts a or between the tops of the same and on the cross-bar a on the respective yielding supports formed thereon, the device being thus adapted for caskets of different sizes, the supports a being preferably arranged in a plane slightly above the cross-rods b of the 1azy=tong frames, so that all the weight of the casket is brought directly on the end frames and in larger or heavier caskets directly on the supportingposts a, which carry the supporting-wheels. J The levers b and b,which compose the lazy tong frames, are preferably formed of rectangular tubing adapted to secure the necessary strength and at the same time render the same very light, and when so constructed the inside wall of the upper extremities of the last levers in the series are each provided with a slotted opening d, and there is mounted Within this hollow lever or tube a sliding bar d. This sliding bar d is also provided with a slotted opening, as shown at-d (see Fig. 4,.) and it projects into the hollow lever sufficiently to embrace the bolt or rod 19 which forms the pivoted connection between the levers. The outer end of each of the sliding bars d is connected by a bolt or screw 61 to the end frame a, preferably to the end post a, which is also preferably hollow, the end thereof being closed by a cap a which projects into the hollow post, the bolt (1 being adapted to pass through the extended portion of said cap and also furnishes the means for securing the cross-bar d to said post by havin g the bolt screw-threaded and tapped into the supporting-clip a" of said cross-bar. The bolt d is preferablyshouldered where it contacts with the outer surface of the post to form a bearing-surface (Z which fits in the slot cl in the end of the lever. It is also further provided with a head (1, which rests against the sliding bar d, but within the tubular lever. with a perforation adapted to receive a springbolt e,which is normally pressed into the same by a spring 6, this bolt or pin 6 being provided with a head 6 by means of which it may be withdrawn from the opening in the bolt d The bolt e and the spring 6 are inclosed within aspring-case ciwhich is secured to the outside of the lazy-tong lever, and it is also preferably provided on opposite sides with depressions 6 in which are adapted to fit projections e on the head 6 so that by withdrawing the head e and turning it slightly the projections a will be raised out of the depressions e and rest on top of the spring-case, so as to hold the pin or bolt 6 out of the holes or depressions in the bolts cl.

It will be understood that the pins 6, fitting in the bolts cl, furnish the means for securing the ends of the upper extremities of the lazy-tong frames securely to the end frames; but when the said pins are withdrawn these levers may slide on the bearing portions (1* of the bolt, the bars (1' slidingin the hollow portion of said levers. This will permit the lazytongs to be folded up, bringing the end frames close together, the locking springbolts orpins being held out of contact with the sliding lever by turning the heads of said bolts until the projections rest on top of the spring-case. \Vhen it is desired to put the truck or pedestal in position for use, the end frames are simply moved outwardly until the sliding levers d contact with the bolts b, which thus limits the movement of said frames, at which time the spring-bolts will be pressed into the openings to receive the same, and thus lock the parts firmly in their extended position.

It will be understood that in mounting the parts the sliding bars d are placed into the hollow levers through the ends thereof, the endsb being afterward closed by a suitable cap In Fig. 0 the parts are shown slightly modified to adapt them to the use of a solid lever instead of a hollow lever. In this case the solid lever will be provided with an opening (Z, the same as before; but this opening would extend entirely through the lever and preferably provided on the inside with a countersunk portion (1" to receive the head or bolt (1.

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view through the spring bolt or pin adapted for the same.

In Fig. 8 I have shown the end frame provided with braces in the corners to stiffen the same. These braces are frequently made of ornamental form and add to the attractive appearance of the truck or pedestal.

Having thus described my invention, I claim This bolt (Z is provided on its head 1. In a casket-truck, the rigid end frames having the end posts and connectingbars, wheels pivoted directly to said end frames, lazy-tong side frames connected to said end frames, each series of the levers of said lazytong frames being pivoted at one end directly to said end frames and at the other end provided with a detachable sliding connection, substantially as and for the purpose'specified.

2. In a casket-truck, the end frames each having the vertical posts and cross-bars conmeeting the same as described, caster-wheels mounted at the lower ends of each of said posts,and series of extensible lazy-tong fram es between the respective end frames each of said frames arranged with a pivoted connection at each of its lower ends and acombined pivoted and sliding connection at each of its upper ends, said connections being adapted to permit an adjustment of said lazy-tongs in vertical parallel planes when the truck is closed, and means, substantially as described, for holding said end frames rigidly in vertical parallel planes when the truck is extended, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with the end frames having the vertical posts, caster-wheels pivoted directly to the same, a cross-bar below the line of the tops of said posts, and yielding supports on said cross-bar, lazy-tong frames connecting said end frames, and crossbars connecting the respective lazy tong frames, said lazy-tong cross-bars being arranged below the planeof the supports on said end-frame cross-bars, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with the end frames and thelazy-tong frames connectingthe same, of a slotted lever in each of said lazy-tong frames, a bolt connecting said lever to the end frame and passing through said slotted lever, a spring-case on said lever having a pin adapted to engage in said bolt, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with the slotted lever, the end frame, the lever-securing bolt, the spring-case on said lever, and a spring-bolt in said spring-case, and means for holding said spring-bolt in different positions, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with the end frames, the lazy-ton g frames, the hollow lazy-tonglevers having the slotted inner walls, the inner sliding bar connected to said end frame and having a slotted opening to engage the pivotbolt of said lever, and means, substantially as described, for connecting said lever to said sliding bar or its bolt, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of April, A. D. 1898.

\VASIIINGTON I1. REAMA.

Witnesses:

CHAS. I. WELcI-I, EARL G. WnLcI-I.

ICC 

